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Lomas Barbudal
Biological Reserve :
Travel
to Costa Rica
: Costa Rica's extensive system of national parks and
biological reserves contains areas which have been set
aside to specifically protect nesting beaches for sea
turtles, marshlands for wintering migrant waterfowl,
nesting sites for seabirds, volcanoes, coral reefs,
archeological sites, limestone caves, and on and on.
But if Lomas Barbudal was declared a biological reserve
to specifically protect anything, then it is insects.
The 2,279 ha. of dry forest habitat and patches of
evergreen forests along the streams in the reserve are
estimated to hold 240 species of bees; it's anybody's
guess how many different kinds of beetles, flies, and
butterflies inhabit this relatively small reserve.
However, if insects aren't your thing, Lomas Barbudal
has excellent birdwatching potential for the species
that occur in tropical dry forest (e.g., Long-tailed
Manakin, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Stub-tailed Spadebill,
Olive Sparrow, and Black-headed Trogon). In the dry
season, mammals can usually be found enjoying the cool
shade of the evergreen forest along the Cabuyo River.
Mantled Howler Monkeys, White-throated Capuchin Monkeys,
Variegated Squirrels, Banded Anteaters, and Tayras (an
all black member of the weasel family) are among the
possible species that can be seen here.
When the hillside forests turn brown and leafless in
the dry season, some visual relief is given by the colorful
blossoms of flowering trees that dot the landscape --
and provide pollen and nectar to all those bees!
Getting there: From Bagaces, continue north
on the PanAmerican Highway for about 12 km. and look
for a sign indicating the left turn onto a gravel road
that takes you the remaining 4 km. to the reserve entrance.
Climate: Hot year-round with a pronounced dry
season from December through April.
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